Luke 9:12 – 17 Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.”
He replied, “You give them something to eat.”
They answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all this crowd.” (About five thousand men were there.)
But he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” The disciples did so, and everybody sat down. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to set before the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
Last Thursday, I had 20 people at my house for Thanksgiving dinner. My kitchen is small, and my dining table seats eight. I wasn’t worried about having enough food – everyone was pitching in. But that morning, as I made final preparations, I prayed, Lord, remember how you stretched a small amount of food so that 5,000 people had plenty? Could you do that with the space in my house? I don’t want people to feel crowded or uncomfortable.
And do you know what? He did! With a little rearrangement of our furniture, we were able to set up two more tables! Everyone had plenty of elbow room, everyone was comfortable and well-fed, and it was a wonderful day. Now, my little spacing issue is minor compared to the crowd-feeding crisis the disciples faced on that long-ago day. But the truth remains, my friends. Jesus can take a little and make a lot. And He can do it with anything!
I can remember times when my budget was limited, but I trusted God to provide, and He did. I can remember times when I had much to accomplish, and not much time to work. I prayed, trusted God, and He made those minutes stretch! I’ll bet that you can think of the same types of miracles God has worked in your own life.
My problem is that, all too often, I forget to go to Him. I am just like those disciples, wasting a lot of time and energy feeling stressed out, panicking, worrying, trying to come up with my own solutions . . . and then I remember. God is in control. I can take my problems to Him – big or small – and He will handle them for me.
I wish I could always remember to go to Him first, before the panic, before the stress . . . and I am getting better. Though I am a slow learner, I do seem to be adding a little wisdom to my pack with every year that comes. I pray that someday, I’ll go to Him immediately with every concern, instead of making Him a last resort. But no matter when I take my problems to Him, He always comes through, with more than enough to meet every need.
Every single time.
Dear Father, Thank You for always being available, always being generous, and always taking care of our problems when we leave them with You.
Amen
Ahhh…once again, words written are timely and hit home;)
Glad you had a good gathering!
Smiles and Blessings to you my friend,
~mp:)
Thanks, MistiPearl! Blessings to you, too, my friend! 🙂
Yes, we belong to a family with a most generous parent and big brother. Thank you, Father, that you teach us generosity by being so flagrantly generous with us.
Jean
http://www.jeanmatthewhall.blogspot.com
Hi Jean! Yes, isn’t it great that we can learn to be generous from the Most Generous?
I so identify with what you have written, Renae! I’m a slow learner, too, but I’m thankful too that I see a few little signs of progress in remembering to go to Him much earlier in the process. Thanks for a great post and reminder!
Thanks, Jeanette. Glad to hear I’m not the only slow learner out there! But as long as we keep moving forward . . . 😉
What a timely reminder, Renae, during this season when panicking and stressing out try to get a foot hold. What a wonderful Father we have!
Thanks, Cheryl. Yes, our Father is pretty great, isn’t He?